If you have a problem with your Sky+ box it helps to know what the make and model number is. They all look fairly similar, presumably design criteria laid down by Sky, but there are 3 different manufacturers, 4 different specifications - around 9 different models.

There should be a sticker on the underside of the box identifying the make and model, if you have access. If not there are other ways to identify your box.

To get the version number of your box access the following menu:
  Services >> 4. System Setup >> 5. System Details

The different specifications are commonly referred to as PVR1, PVR2, PVR2.5 and PVR3 (version numbers in brackets):

PVR1 - first generation, 40GB, no Sky Anytime



Pace BSKYB3000 (9F20xx) - silver and black



PVR2 - 2nd generation, 40GB, no Sky Anytime



Pace BSKYB3100 (9F21xx) - white, card flap left, no air vents on top





Amstrad DRX180 (4F20xx) - white, card flap right, top covered in air vents


PVR2.5 - 160GB, no Sky Anytime



Thomson DSI6210 (4E20xx) - white with "160" design on front panel


PVR3 - 3rd generation 160GB (80GB personal storage), Sky Anytime


Pace TDS470N (9F22xx) - white, card flap left, air vents on top in two blocks


Amstrad DRX280 (4F21xx) - white, card flap right, top covered in air vents



Thomson DSI8210 (4E21xx) - white, card flap right, no air vents in top

Official demo of the new Sky+HD EPG (7 minutes)...

Credit to sionmowb for uploading to youtube: link

Further info: sky.com/HDGuide

The ITV HD channel is not yet available with Sky+ HD. However, if you have the new Sky+HD EPG, it's possible to add the channel. Here's how:

1. Press the TV Guide button on your remote.
2. In the top menu, Scroll along to Options.
3. From the middle menu scroll to Add Channels and hit Select.
4. Enter the following information and press the yellow button:

     Frequency:    11.427
     Polarisation:   H
     Symbol Rate:  27.5
     FEC:           2/3

5. You should be presented with list of channels found. The channel called 10510 is the ITV HD channel. Press the yellow button to select the channel and Select to store.
6. The channel will now be available via the Other Channels menu.

Note: the channel is not broadcasting all the time. It will display an ident when it's not broadcasting. Also, there's no program information and you can't pause or record.

Here's a short clip showing how to do all that...

Credit to mike1lon for posting on youtube: link

Hoping someone might have come across the problem with a Dell Inspiron 1300 laptop.

When I press the power button nothing much happens: two LEDs at the front (power and hard disk) light, and the 3 caps-lock, num-lock, scroll-lock keys flash once. Apart from that nothing - no video, no fan noise. Tried it connected to an external monitor and nothing on that either.

This is with the (dead) battery removed and only the power supply connected.

To rule out anything else I've removed the hard disk and memory but it's still the same.

Here's a video:

Some of the suggestions I've had:

• bad power cord - No. Tested and working on another Inspiron 1300.
• bad cpu - No. Tested and working on another Inspiron 1300.
• bad ram - No. Tested and working on another Inspiron 1300.
• badly seated ram - No. Removed and reseated. No change.
• touch pad/lid magnet fault - No. Tired with touchpad disconnected. No change

Someone pointed out that the machine would not boot without any ram. Of course this is true, but the correct sequence with no ram fitted is as follows (tested on another working 1300):
1. Power indicator on. Disk, battery, wifi lights off.
2. Num-lock, caps-lock and scroll-lock flash and then caps-lock and scroll-lock stay on.
3. Stays like this for 10 seconds (nothing on screen, no fans).
4. All LEDs go off.

So, it seems the faulty laptop is failing before this. Adding ram doesn't change the sequence.

Suggestions welcomed.

This blog is dedicated to all things Sky Digital. It's intended to be a repository for all the useful info I come across about Sky TV. The focus will generally be on the hardware: the set top boxes, remotes, dishes, cabling, etc.

If anyone finds it useful then that's a bonus.

Future topics:

• A guide to Sky Boxes: makes & models
• Upgrading the hard disk (Sky+ & Sky+HD)
• Common faults & repair tips